Coffee Hulls ? Whats your experience with them and how do you use them or not?

[lclough1998]

Have seen some references to coffee hulls and tried to search for more information but while they are mentioned a bit, not sure where in the coop to use them, why to use them and for what age of bird are they appropriate? What is it, just the little stuff left in the roaster? Are you happy with them and why? Thanks for any info!

 

[animallover505]

I think you are thinking about cocoa hulls. If a dog or cat eats them, they are highly toxic. They can be sharp, too. I wouldn't recommend them.

 

[lclough1998]

Actually, I think that people are using coffee hulls in their coops, not clear if its for in the nests or on floors or in brooders. I don't think that chickens like coffee grounds to eat but i think they like to pick through them or lay in them or poop sticks to it and its easy to clean up. Not sure, so I started this thread to find out.

 

[animallover505]

Oh, I dunno about that, then.

 

[cravenchx]

I use "used" coffee grounds in the compost pile. They work great!

 

[Impress]

Coffee is actually a fruit, the "bean" is the seed inside of the fruit. Coffee hulls are the dried outside that surrounds that coffee bean, as it is dried to get the "bean" out.

 

[lclough1998]

thanks for the info. Does anyone know of anyone who uses coffee hulls and what they use them for in a coop?

 

[duckinnut]

While I don't use coffee hulls let me say this is that they are very dusty. At least initially when spreading them and possibly when the chickens scratch around. I think long term it is probably not good breathing the dust for humans or chickens. I have worked in the waste handling industry for 30 years and used to service a trash compaction unit from a coffee roaster. When it was dumped a cloud of brown would come out and you would have to wait to make sure the container was empty as you could not breath in the facility. It did make the waste facility smell great and absorbed a lot of water but sure hard to breathe in the building. I suppose it would be OK to use outdoors though, once it gets wet the smaller dust particles would be captured. IMHO

 

[lclough1998]

While I don't use coffee hulls let me say this is that they are very dusty. At least initially when spreading them and possibly when the chickens scratch around. I think long term it is probably not good breathing the dust for humans or chickens. I have worked in the waste handling industry for 30 years and used to service a trash compaction unit from a coffee roaster. When it was dumped a cloud of brown would come out and you would have to wait to make sure the container was empty as you could not breath in the facility. It did make the waste facility smell great and absorbed a lot of water but sure hard to breathe in the building. I suppose it would be OK to use outdoors though, once it gets wet the smaller dust particles would be captured. IMHO

Thanks, thats what I needed to know. I have never seen them, I just have access to some and wondered about them. I have some outdoor nest boxes I could put them in so exposure would be limited if I do end up with some. Thanks, duckinnut!

 

[cmoore333]

I've used coffee grounds in the floor of my coop most recently (tell you it really keeps down the smell). Are the bad for chickens and ducks?. Just tring some new things besides hay or straw and grass clippings